6 die of measles, 22 others infected in IDP camp

Six children have died of measles in Arabic Teachers’ College (ATC) camp housing 8,034 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Gwoza, Marte and Askira Uba local government areas.

The outbreak of the disease is blamed on congestion and inadequate toilets and sanitary facilities.

When Daily Trust visited the camp Tuesday, 22 children were still suffering from the disease even as 345 IDPs from Askira Uba local government area had been returned to their various communities while 1,913 other IDPs from Gwoza local government area had been relocated to Bakassi camp to decongest the ATC camp.

Officials in the camp, who pleaded anonymity because they had no authority to talk to the press, said the increased rainfall in the area these days was worsening the situation due to poor drainage system and resultant flooding.

Effort to reach the Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Engineer Ahmed Alhaji Satomi, was not successful as calls put to his mobile phone were not answered.